The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST) announced the final selection of 27 festivals as “2026–2027 Cultural Tourism Festivals.” Of these, 20 were redesignated from the existing “2024–2025 Cultural Tourism Festivals,” while 7 festivals, including the Busan International Rock Festival, Nonsan Strawberry Festival, and Sejong Hangeul Festival, which have gained significant popularity among the youth and family tourists in recent years, were newly selected.

The “2026–2027 Cultural Tourism Festivals” were selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of results from expert, consumer, and local resident assessments over the past two years, as well as considerations of negative issues such as price gouging and tourism readiness.

Establishing comprehensive “K-Culture” experience destinations by strengthening “cultural tourism festival” competitiveness and supporting linkages with “Global Festivals”

The MCST and the Korea Tourism Organization will provide comprehensive support for two years, from 2026 to 2027, to strengthen the competitiveness of Cultural Tourism Festivals and raise their profile. This support includes national funding (KRW 40 million per supported festival) and international promotion, tourism product development, strengthening content competitiveness, and improving tourism readiness through artificial intelligence (AI).

Starting this year, the support framework will undergo a fundamental shift from the previous model of providing individual assistance to existing Cultural Tourism Festivals and preliminary festivals to a new, integrated approach centered on “Global Festivals”. Under this new model, festivals will be strategically linked based on shared themes, geographical proximity, and their roles as representative regional tourist destinations. By leveraging the elevated status and global recognition of Korea’s flagship “Global Festivals,” the initiative aims to enhance the overall visibility and competitiveness of all Cultural Tourism Festivals nationwide.

Expanding “Global Festival” support to attract local and international tourists in the regional areas

Furthermore, the MCST has significantly increased the support budget for “Cultural Tourism Festivals,” including “Global Festivals,” from KRW 6.5 billion in 2025 to KRW 10.4 billion in 2026. This year, in addition to the existing “Global Festivals” of Incheon Pentaport Music Festival, Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, and Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, three new “Global Festivals” will be selected, along with “Preglobal Festivals” that are aiming for “Global Festival” status through improvements in tourism readiness, development of differentiated core content, and transformation into international tourism products for global expansion. Through this initiative, the plan is to channel worldwide interest in “K-Culture” toward regional flagship “Global Festivals,” thereby spreading domestic and international visitors from the Seoul Metropolitan Area to regional destinations.

“Global Festivals” and “Preglobal Festivals” will be selected through an open call targeting the 27 “2026–2027 Cultural Tourism Festivals”[1] and 20 Honorary Festivals by February 2026, with detailed call schedules to be announced later.